Ray (Species Unspecified)
Ray
A flattened, kite-shaped cartilaginous fish with large pectoral 'wings', a long tail, and colouring that varies considerably by species — from sandy and spotted to smooth grey-olive.
Facts
- The UK has several common shore-caught ray species — thornback, blonde, undulate, small-eyed and spotted are the most frequent — each with its own distinct pattern.
- All UK rays are cartilaginous fish, in the same broad family as sharks, and lay the distinctive 'mermaid's purse' egg cases often found on beaches.
- If you can identify the exact species caught, our individual ray pages (thornback, blonde, undulate, small-eyed and spotted) have more specific detail.
UK fishing rules
Rules vary by species and region — see the individual ray pages linked above, and always check current IFCA byelaws before retaining any ray.
Where to catch Ray (Species Unspecified) (6 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abersoch | Wales | Year-round, peak Sep–Nov | Fish strip or squid cast beyond the sandbar on a bigger tide. |
| Barry Island (Whitmore Bay) | Wales | Jun–Sep | crab or fish bait fished hard on the deck for the bigger stuff |
| Carrickfergus Harbour | N. Ireland | Winter | Bottom fished bait over sand |
| Mundesley Beach | East | Summer | Bait leger over sand |
| Trevose Head | South West | Jun–Sep | Occasional from sandier ledges nearby using fish baits on a simple running rig. |
| Warrenpoint Front Shore | N. Ireland | Summer | Bigger baits fished from Gannaway Rock or by boat, mainly a Lough-wide summer fishery |